Halliburton, a prime oil drilling and fracking employer, closed down some of its internal systems in advance this week after a cyberattack.
Unauthorized Access Leads to System Shutdown
According to a short declaration filed with the regulators on Thursday, the organization observed an unauthorized right of entry to its structures on Wednesday. As a precaution, it has disabled some systems and is now determining the impact of the incident.
Halliburton: A Major Energy Sector Player
One of the world’s largest energy groups, with nearly 48,000 employees in many nations, gained fame for its role in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill inside the Gulf of Mexico and a subsequent $1.1 billion agreement with the United States government.
US Department of Energy Monitors Situation Cyberattack
“There are no indications that any [sic] incident has impacted energy services at this time, and DOE is coordinating with interagency partners,” said an American Department of Energy spokesperson quoted by Reuters, which broke news of the cyber attack.
Common Cyberattack Measures
After detecting a cyber attack, systems are regularly shut down to prevent further unauthorized right of entry. Change Healthcare and CDK Global took similar actions this year following ransomware attacks.
Halliburton Says Little More Than Legal Filing
Halliburton spokesperson Victoria Ingalls declined to offer more information than what was contained in the company’s official filing when asked by top class about details surrounding the incident or communications from attackers. She reemphasized that position, noting, “We will communicate through our 8-K public filing.”
Flags Security Worry
Topclaps flagged a potential security hole at Halliburton’s single-sign-on provider that could allow unauthorized access to internal systems. Halliburton did not respond directly or provide other details when asked if this was correct.
Cyberattack Financial Performance and Executive Compensation
According to its most recent income release, its revenue was $23bn in 2023, a thirteen percent year-over-year increase. CEO Jeff Miller received $19 million in general government reimbursement for the year.
